The birth of Hindu nationalist ideology was largely a result of India's colonial history. Although the movement was in many ways a reaction to the British presence, as well as the Christian missions that accompanied it, it had many aspects borrowed from or inspired by colonial rule itself. Concerned about the momentum of the Khilafat movement of the 1920s, Hindu nationalists adopted strategies of stigmatization and emulation of groups perceived as threats. Hindu nationalism remained active in India throughout the 1900s, was consolidated with the publication of Hindutva, and was characterized by groups such as the Sang Parivar and the RSS. The success experienced by the BJP in the late 1990s can be explained by its effectiveness in building coalitions, its strategies for gaining state-level support in contested areas, and, above all, its manipulation of ethno-religious vulnerability. All these factors contributed to the mobilization of Hindu nationalist ideology and the success, however brief, experienced by the BJP. The BJP's success in the 1980s and 1990s was largely due to its ability to use a series of events to emphasize the vulnerability of Hindu religion and identity, as well as its collaboration with the RSS and the VHP, which were integral to his mobilization and gaining popular support. Events such as the 1981 Meenakshipuram conversions, where 300 low-caste Hindu families converted to Islam, caused anxiety among many Hindus, and the Shah Bano case strengthened the perceived need for a homogeneous Hindu civil code. The RSS was able to use its old strategies of emulation and stigmatization to counter internal threats posed by separatist sentiments among... middle of paper ......the NDA, the INC proved adept in creating new alliance strategies. By focusing on relevant social issues, “the INC has emerged as the natural spokesperson of the masses.” (2005, p. 249) Jaffrelot concludes that, overall, the BJP's loss of popularity can be explained by the lack of vulnerability of Hindu identity and the resulting loss of interest in its nationalist agenda (which is not necessarily a movement towards secularism). ) and the weakness of its coalitions. Since ethno-religious mobilization has only been effective in India in times of unrest, the success of this type of aggressive strategy depends largely on the momentum of a driving issue like the construction of a temple in Ayodha. For years, the RSS has exploited perceived threats to the Hindu majority; however, where such fears do not exist, it is difficult to exploit them for political gain.